can't\ help\ but

can't\ help\ but
• cannot but formal
• can't help but informal
v. phr.
To be forced to; can only; must.

When the streets are full of melting snow, you can't help but get your shoes wet.

When a friend gave Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn't help but go.

When a close friend dies, you cannot but feel sad.

Compare: can help, have to

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • can't help but — {informal} also {formal}[cannot but] {v. phr.} To be forced to; can only; must. * /When the streets are full of melting snow, you can t help but get your shoes wet./ * /When a friend gave Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn t help but go./ *… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • can't help but — {informal} also {formal}[cannot but] {v. phr.} To be forced to; can only; must. * /When the streets are full of melting snow, you can t help but get your shoes wet./ * /When a friend gave Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn t help but go./ *… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Can't Help but Wait — Infobox Single Name = Can t Help But Wait Artist = Trey Songz Released = August 6, 2007 Format = Digital download CD single Recorded = 2007 Genre = R B Length = 3:27 Label = Atlantic Records Writer = Johnta Austin Producer = Stargate from Album …   Wikipedia

  • somebody can not help but do something — sb can (not) help (doing) sth | sb can not help but do sth idiom used to say that it is impossible to prevent or avoid sth • I can t help thinking he knows more than he has told us. • He can t help being ugly. • …   Useful english dictionary

  • cannot (can't) help but — In this expression, but should be omitted because its use results in a double negative (cannot, or can t, and but). Instead of saying I can t help but think you are mistaken, say I can t help thinking you are mistaken, a more concise statement… …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • (cannot) can't help but — In this expression, but should be omitted because its use results in a double negative (cannot, or can t, and but). Instead of saying I can t help but think you are mistaken, say I can t help thinking you are mistaken, a more concise statement… …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • cannot or can't help but — idi cannot or can t help but, to be unable to refrain from or avoid; be obliged to: Still, you can t help but admire her[/ex] …   From formal English to slang

  • can't help something — can t help (something) to not be able to control or stop something. A lot of kids daydream in school. They just can t help it. Usage notes: sometimes used in the form can t help but do something: I couldn t help but notice that the table is a bit …   New idioms dictionary

  • can't help — (something) to not be able to control or stop something. A lot of kids daydream in school. They just can t help it. Usage notes: sometimes used in the form can t help but do something: I couldn t help but notice that the table is a bit wobbly …   New idioms dictionary

  • Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man — with music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, is one of the most famous songs from their classic 1927 musical play Show Boat , adapted from Edna Ferber s novel. TOC The song, written in a blues tempo, is sung in the show by… …   Wikipedia

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